Prejudice in society, criminal justice system

I have waited nearly six months, since the end of my trial, to say anything because I didn’t want to rush ahead without guidance from my Heavenly Father. I bit my tongue and reminded myself to trust Him rather than lean on my own ways, which are at times flawed.

A recent story about the black men who were arrested at Starbucks while waiting on another man to conduct a business meeting should bring home the point former NFL player Colin Kaepernick and others have been trying to make about being black or a person of color in America today. The CEO of Starbucks, to his credit, quickly acknowledged the wrong and made no excuses.

We have seen this type of discriminatory action throughout the country, and it is very prevalent in the criminal justice system. But do those in charge step up and acknowledge their wrong, or do they make excuses for their actions? Do they try to help those affected by their actions, or do they maintain their rigid stance that they do no wrong? There were a lot of wrongs done in my case, and it is time for someone to acknowledge them.

My defense team has found at least 17 issues/errors dealing with the trial proceedings. If the appeal is successful, maybe this time around, questions should not be about Gregory K. Parks, but about the system that keeps getting it wrong and won’t admit it. Maybe those inside the system should take a page from the Starbucks CEO — acknowledge their wrongs and make no excuses.

Gregory K. Parks

Tabor City

Editor’s Note: The writer was convicted of first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, obtaining property by false pretense and being a habitual felon Nov. 15 in the disappearance and death of Isabel “Chaveli” Palacios. He is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole and is currently incarcerated in the Tabor Correctional Institution.